InFocus | Steel
Fab metal on show
The Middle East's largest trade show catering to the metal industry drew visitors from more than 50 countries.
- Gulf News Report
- Published: 23:32 June 23, 2008
The Middle East's largest trade show catering to the metal industry drew visitors from more than 50 countries.
The Middle East construction boom and the subsequent demand for steel are mirrored in the growth of the SteelFab and SteelTech exhibitions held at Expo Centre Sharjah. The event made its debut in 2004 and has grown considerably
in terms of number of exhibitors, occupied exhibition space, as well as exhibit profile.
It is the Middle East's largest trade show for the metal working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication industries and caters to the industry's requirements of machinery, machine tools, welding equipment, pre-treatment and post-treatment supplies and ancillary equipment, all under one roof.
The last edition held in January this year drew 206 direct exhibitors from 25 countries who displayed more than 400 brands in sheet metal working and 7,177 visitors from more than 50 countries. The growth of the show is largely down to its exhibitor retention, which has been at exceptional levels with above 80 per cent of the exhibitors at SteelFab returning.
Marcel Deegens, Sales Manager, Gietart Middle East, an exhibitor said, "Not only was there a considerable growth in number of visitors, the quality of the contacts made
it clear that the Middle East is a very important place to be. We will definitely be exhibiting at the SteelFab next year."
The SteelTech exhibition, which made its debut this year, was co-located with the SteelFab exhibition. It was a trade fair aimed at the growing steel production industry in the Middle East and featured the complete range of technology, equipment and products for the Middle East-based steel production sector including steel producers, rolling mills, tube and pipe manufacturers, wire manufacturers, steel processors, and rebar manufacturers.
Almost all the machines shipped in for the show were reported sold, where some machines were pre-sold intended for other buyers. Queries for the next edition of SteelFab in 2009 have already started pouring in with more than 95 per cent of the exhibitors expected to participate again at the next edition. For more information log on to www.expo-centre.ae For more information on SteelFab log on to www.steelfabme.com
Dates for your diary
- Middle East Manufacturing Exhibition (MEMEX), November 23 to 25, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Industryscape will run alongside Memex.
- It will bring together international investors, developers, investment authorities, architects, designers, consultants and section professionals involved in the industrial, manufacturing and production real estate industry.
- Middle East Steel (MEED) October 12 to 14, Park Hyatt Hotel Dubai
- 12th Middle East Iron and Steel Conference, December 12 to 14, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai
- SteelFab January 19 to 22, Expo Centre Sharjah
